Summer Festival 2009 at Aramco's Exhibition Center here is attracting large crowds with thousands of visitors enjoying entertainment programs, social lectures, animated movies, children's techno park and poetic evenings. Abdul Aziz M. Al-Qadhi, the festival's chief organizer, told Saudi Gazette about 4,000 visitors attend the festival daily. He said that over 72,000 visitors have already participated in festival events. Every year, he added, the number of visitors increases. Festival organizers this year have concentrated on individual development programs for children, such as educating them about computer technology, computer programs, hardware information, practical assembling of computers, lap top operation and various other computer courses. These fun-oriented educational programs, which are conducted in a specially arranged tent called “Children's Technology Park”, admit only children aged between 5 to 15. “While Saudi Aramco attempts to maintain its role in providing energy to the world, it also works hard to strengthen the community's knowledge through a variety of programs that spread awareness, develop better understanding and create better behavioral and environmental habits that can become standard practice among the community,” a senior Aramco official said. Children and the families in Eastern Province are enjoying the festival which started Aug. 1 and ends Sept. 4. Apart from entertainment programs, various cultural programs, handicraft exhibitions, women's homemade food corners, drawing competitions and poetic evenings are also attracting many people. Tips were given to visitors on how to use recycling to protect the environment.
